SouthCoast absentee voters increasing

Massachusetts may not technically have "early voting" like some states do, but that doesn't prevent residents from voting before Nov. 6.

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By ARIEL WITTENBERG

southcoasttoday.com

By ARIEL WITTENBERG

Posted Oct. 8, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 8, 2012 at 6:54 AM

By ARIEL WITTENBERG

Posted Oct. 8, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 8, 2012 at 6:54 AM

» Social News

Massachusetts may not technically have "early voting" like some states do, but that doesn't prevent residents from voting before Nov. 6.

Voters who want to cast their votes prior to Election Day can simply apply for an absentee ballot. And more of them seem to be doing it; election officials in several SouthCoast communities said they have seen an increase in requests over the past few years.

Strictly speaking, absentee ballots are only for registered voters who will be absent from their city or town during polling hours, are physically incapable of going to the polling place, or have a religious belief that would prevent them from going to the polls on that day.

Absentee ballot applications include a warning that "illegal absentee voting, including making a false application, is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison." But, applicants do not have to prove that they will not be in town on Election Day.

"We don't have early voting, but absentee voting is the same thing, basically," Maria Tomasia, chairwoman of New Bedford's Board of Election, said. "You have to have a specific reason why you need to be absentee but you do not have to show proof. We can't ask for it."

Absentee voters can either mail an application to City Hall for their ballot to be sent to them, or they can go to City Hall and cast the absentee ballot in a booth set up outside the elections office.

Brian McNiff, a spokesman for the Secretary of State Elections and Voting Office, said the difference between early voting and absentee voting is that "in early voting, they have entire polling places open."

"Here, you can only vote at the town clerk (office) or by mail and only if you will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day."

On the Saturday before elections, Tomasia said, the Board of Elections is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to ensure that people have the chance to vote.

Over the years, she said, more residents have been taking advantage of absentee voting.

In the 2004 presidential election, there were 1,588 applications for absentee ballots. In 2008, there were 1,880 applications.

This year, Tomasia said, she received 600 requests for absentee ballots before the ballots were even available.

McNiff said the state does not keep track of how many people request absentee ballots each election season.

In Wareham, Town Clerk Mary Ann Silvia said the town had requests for 932 absentee ballots for the presidential election in 2008. As of Oct. 4, 306 Wareham residents had already requested them.

"It's more than your normal election," she said.

In Dartmouth, Town Clerk Lynn Medeiros said she has also seen an increase in absentee balloters.

"I know most of them, and they are snow birds who go south for a few months in the winter," she said. "I know that they actually won't be here."

She added that there have been a few calls into her office asking the requirements for getting an absentee ballot.

"I just tell them, you are signing under the penalties of perjury that you are unable to go to the polls on Election Day," she said.

In New Bedford, Tomasia said she's happy about the increase in absentee ballots.

"The important thing is, there really is no reason you shouldn't be voting," Tomasia said. "We count every vote whether it's absentee or not, and your voice should be heard."